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Amount Spent on Welfare Exceeds Average Income
Semi-News/Semi-Satire ^ | 7 Dec 2012 | John Semmens

Posted on 12/08/2012 12:02:02 AM PST by John Semmens

Data from a Congressional Research Service report reveals that the amount the government spends on welfare per family below the poverty line exceeds the median earned income. The median for earned income in the United States is about $50,000 per year. The amount spent per family on welfare exceeds $60,000 per year. Assuming a 40-hour work week, welfare equates to an after-tax wage of over $30 per hour.

Congressional Democrats used these figures to make the case against prospective cuts to the government's entitlement spending. “The GOP's notion that we ought to be pushing people to get jobs is completely refuted by these numbers,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) contended. “Any person who can qualify for welfare payments would be harming her family by leaving the shelter of government benefits for the uncertainties of the marketplace.”

Over in the Senate Charles Schumer (D-NY) claimed that “cutting welfare benefits would devastate our economy. As the research shows, families on welfare contribute more spending to stimulate the economy than those who work for a living. Rather than foolishly trying to reduce the number of persons who qualify for welfare as the Republicans want us to do, we ought to be adding to and extending the benefits we bestow on this economically vibrant segment of our society.”

The New York Senator averred that “the President's bid to raise taxes on the wealthy is a small step in the right direction, but it doesn't go far enough. The number of these people who will be encouraged to leave the workforce is small. A much bigger impact would be achieved if we could, like former Governor Howard Dean advises, raise everyone's taxes. That way a lot more could join this crucial economic cohort.”

In related news, disability is now America's fastest growing career choice among persons aged 18-64. In 1960 less than 1% of these persons were receiving disability payments. Last year more than 5% were. Disability due to “mood disorders” was credited with “making substantial inroads into the workforce over the last 50 years.” “Given the plasticity of this designation we see no reason why the vast majority of the population shouldn't qualify for benefits for this cause over the next few decades,” boasted Health and Human Service Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “We are within sight of creating a society where the majority can be relieved of the burdens of toil.”

if you missed any of this week's other semi-news/semi-satire posts you can find them at...

http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Opinion/124084-2012-12-07-semi-news-a-satire-of-recent-news-december-9-2012.htm


TOPICS: Humor
KEYWORDS: democrats; parasites; satire; welfare
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1 posted on 12/08/2012 12:02:06 AM PST by John Semmens
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To: #1CTYankee; 12Gauge687; 14erClimb; 21twelve; 2nd Bn, 11th Mar; 2ndDivisionVet; 3D-JOY; 43north; ...

ping


2 posted on 12/08/2012 12:04:54 AM PST by John Semmens
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To: #1CTYankee; 12Gauge687; 14erClimb; 21twelve; 2nd Bn, 11th Mar; 2ndDivisionVet; 3D-JOY; 43north; ...

ping


3 posted on 12/08/2012 12:05:56 AM PST by John Semmens
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To: #1CTYankee; 12Gauge687; 14erClimb; 21twelve; 2nd Bn, 11th Mar; 2ndDivisionVet; 3D-JOY; 43north; ...

ping


4 posted on 12/08/2012 12:06:56 AM PST by John Semmens
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To: John Semmens
I predict that this will also turn into reality, just as your 2010 piece where Pelosi describes unemployment benefits as “stimulus” for the economy came true this week.
5 posted on 12/08/2012 12:17:56 AM PST by Olog-hai
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To: John Semmens

Hyper inflation will put a rude end to the free stuff because there won’t be any stuff.


6 posted on 12/08/2012 12:27:55 AM PST by Berlin_Freeper
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To: Berlin_Freeper

I want my Democrat credit card called EBT — why can’t Republicans get EBT? That is discrimination...


7 posted on 12/08/2012 2:07:44 AM PST by wayne_shrugged
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To: Berlin_Freeper

I want my Democrat credit card called EBT — why can’t Republicans get EBT? That is discrimination...


8 posted on 12/08/2012 2:07:52 AM PST by wayne_shrugged
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To: John Semmens

John
Trying to determine the ‘satire’ portion.
Way too close to reality.


9 posted on 12/08/2012 2:17:23 AM PST by Vinnie (A)
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To: John Semmens

“The median for earned income in the United States is about $50,000 per year. The amount spent per family on welfare exceeds $60,000 per year.”

Just did a quick search and those ARE actual numbers ($50,964 vs. $61,830).

BUT! I imagine that the folks below the poverty line are the ones receiving the benefits, so add in another $18,000 and you get $79,830!!

Of course the $61,830 is how much the government programs spend - not on how much they provide. Factor in the number of workers, poor performance of the average government employee, red tape, coffee breaks, holidays, “conventions”, seminars, etc., and the average poor family probably only sees $12,000 of it. (Guessing at 20%).

And the reason it won’t get any better is that neither the giver or the receiver has any concerns, as it is NOT THEIR MONEY.


10 posted on 12/08/2012 2:29:41 AM PST by 21twelve (So I [God] gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. Psalm 81:12)
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To: Vinnie
Compare this to this, then. Frightening how the satire turned into reality.
11 posted on 12/08/2012 3:43:00 AM PST by Olog-hai
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To: Vinnie

Satire is Nancy Pelosi admitting that it’s more attractive to stay on welfare than work. She knows it of course but is way too cagey to say it.


12 posted on 12/08/2012 3:54:02 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck (How long before all this "fairness" kills everybody, even the poor it was supposed to help???)
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To: 21twelve
When you receive a salary or hourly rate payment from an employer he doesn't vary the amount according to the number of children you have.

Then, too, these numbers are averages ~ the reality for any particular employed person can be considerably different than the average for someone on welfare.

You might check out the value attributed to income by reason of residency in public housing ~

Getting a real job with real income, and the liberty to obtain housing suitible to your circumstances might well be a far better deal than being onwelfare and living in public housing.

13 posted on 12/08/2012 5:15:17 AM PST by muawiyah
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To: wayne_shrugged
I want my Democrat credit card called EBT — why can’t Republicans get EBT? That is discrimination...

They welcome republicans in the EBT offices - the more folks on the dole, the stronger they get as they weaken the Nation.

14 posted on 12/08/2012 5:23:36 AM PST by trebb (Allies no longer trust us. Enemies no longer fear us.)
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To: John Semmens

Another brilliant piece that (sadly) is the reality we should expect very soon.


15 posted on 12/08/2012 5:23:59 AM PST by ReformationFan
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To: John Semmens
In related news, disability is now America's fastest growing career choice among persons aged 18-64. In 1960 less than 1% of these persons were receiving disability payments. Last year more than 5% were. Disability due to “mood disorders” was credited with “making substantial inroads into the workforce over the last 50 years.” “Given the plasticity of this designation we see no reason why the vast majority of the population shouldn't qualify for benefits for this cause over the next few decades,” boasted Health and Human Service Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “We are within sight of creating a society where the majority can be relieved of the burdens of toil.”

John, where's the GD satire?!?

16 posted on 12/08/2012 6:06:24 AM PST by headsonpikes (Mass murder and cannibalism are the twin sacraments of socialism - "Who-whom?"-Lenin)
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To: John Semmens
you sure this is satire???
17 posted on 12/08/2012 6:42:02 AM PST by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: John Semmens
Ten Welfare Programs to Cost $8.3 Trillion Over Next ...

Here's a chart from the Republican side of the Senate Budget Committee that shows the top most expensive programs are likely to grow (in terms of cost):

And here's a breakdown of the programs, and how much they'll cost over the next ten years, according to government projections:


18 posted on 12/08/2012 6:55:04 AM PST by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
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To: John Semmens

“Semi-News/Semi-Satire...”

For now, at least...


19 posted on 12/08/2012 9:57:13 AM PST by Road Glide
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To: John Semmens
House Speaker, Representative John Boehner (R-Ohio) undertook moves meant to consolidate his authority this past week. First he executed a purge of House committee members he deemed “not team players.” Later he blocked all others from participating in the negotiations with President Obama on the so-called “fiscal cliff.” … Boehner discounted suggestions that he might be replaced as Speaker as “rumblings of a disorganized and impotent gang of malcontents. Even in the unlikely event that they looked like they might succeed in their quest to remove me they still won't get what they want. If forced to do so, I and my loyal lieutenants would always have the option of caucusing with the Democrats. Do those who oppose me really want to bring back Pelosi as Speaker?”

In related news, President Obama insisted that “raising taxes on the rich is my number one priority” and vowed to “destroy this country if that's what it takes to achieve a greater equality among the mass of common people.”

Satire to follow?

Excellent/scary article as always, John, and may I suggest that the Boehner/Obama piece is a strong candidate for "best of"?

.

20 posted on 12/08/2012 10:56:57 AM PST by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never...except to convictions of honour and good sense. W. Churchill)
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